About Alano

The Alano Club of St. Joseph is a fellowship of men and women, working together, building a community of recovery. Great healing occurs in community. 12 Step Meetings represent the core function and those principles come to life in the fellowship of a recovery community. Love and tolerance of others is our code. There is no “I” in Alano – we work together as a team with a common goal: A peaceful and serene recovery for all who enter our domain.

The Historic Alano Club of St. Joseph, Missouri, is the oldest Alano Club, west of the Mississippi, formed in the 1940’s and continuing to operate in their original facility. That original facility is a historic mansion located in the Museum Hill Historic Neighborhood in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Our purpose is to improve the quality of life for our participants, as measured by abstinence from alcohol and other substances, as well as by increased life satisfaction, improved family relationships, marital stability, job and career performance, and financial stability.

Alano hosts 40 12 Step meetings each week. There are around 2,000 individual visits to Alano each month.

A common myth is that AA runs Alano – that is just a myth – AA has never run any Alano Club. The Alano club of St. Joseph, Mo. Inc., is an independent, private, not-for-profit, 501-C3, self governing public health organization with an elected Board and elected Officers. We must note that Alano is not a Mental Health Facility – we do not diagnose or manage any mental health issues.

Contact us at:

ADDRESS: 401 S 11th St.; St Joseph, MO., 64501

PHONE NUMBER: (816) 364-9179

The Alano Club of St. Joseph was founded in 1948 as Alano Mercy Hospital – it was chartered as a four bed hospital for the purpose of helping alcoholics in detoxification and for providing two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings each week. Times changed. In 1950 Al-Anon was formed, then in 1952 Narcotics Anonymous was founded as the third 12 Step program. In 1956 Gamblers Anonymous was founded as a 12 Step Program. Also in 1956 the American Medical Association declared Alcoholism a disease. That declaration meant alcoholics could be treated in hospital emergency rooms and that insurance companies would cover costs of treatment.

The consequences of these changes prompted the Board of Directors of the Alano Club of St. Joseph to update their charter. The mission now reflects the support of all people in recovery from addiction.

About the Alano concept:

Alcoholics Anonymous, with roots to 1935, exploded in growth in the early 1940’s. Many recovering alcoholics wanted to meet more often, and not be restricted to member’s homes or church basements. Alcoholics Anonymous has a tradition of not owning property – so they consented to individual groups who wished to purchase property – allowing only that AA would rent space but not participate in the building operation, ‘…lest problems of money, property, and prestige interfere with our primary purpose.” An arms-length relationship was formed.

The first AA group in St. Joseph was formed in 1943. That group of progressive people chartered the Alano Club of St. Joseph, inc. on July 17, 1948. Mrs. Hax, the widow of George Hax, bequeathed building to the St. Joseph Art Association in 1947. The newly chartered Alano Club of St. Joseph acquired the property, did some basic remodeling, and opened the Alano Club in 1949. The doors have never closed since.

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The WI Association of 12 Step Club presents Western Area Regional Club Leadership Conference On Saturday, October 25th 2014 at WITC 1019 S. Knowles Ave New Richmond ,WI. Your registration must receive by October 11th, 2014 space is limited. You can email the association at wi.ass.12.step.clubs@gmail.com. If you can like us on facebook